News

Store owner Ken Rundle was very busy on Saturday, May 18, as he welcomed old and new visitors to the grand re-opening of the newly renovated Giant Tiger store in Morrisburg. He and his staff of 30 had been on the site since early morning, as large crowds took advantage of the savings and the fun activities scheduled.

“It’s a perfect day,” Rundle said. “We were hoping for big re-opening crowds and we are definitely getting them. The Morrisburg and District Lions have been serving up hot dogs and pop for $1, and people have been lined up non stop.” All funds  raised by the Lions at the GT celebration go to the club’s charities and projects.

Standing in the bright store, its walls painted a warm yellow, Rundle explained that the renovations had taken about 11 weeks. “We’ve changed the store around, grouped merchandise to create a better flow for customers. We stayed open during the entire renovation so people could actually see the transformation. All Giant Tiger stores are moving to this new concept. Cornwall is celebrating its re-opening today too.”

Giant Tiger is the leading Canadian owned family discount store, committed to providing on trend family fashions, groceries and everyday needs. The privately held company was established in 1961 in Ottawa, and has over 200 locations throughout Canada. 

During its celebration, the Morrisburg store offered promotional giveaways, draws for GT gift cards, face painting (with volunteer Catharine Prevost), visits with Friendly the Tiger and lots of bargains.

“While today is our big day,” Rundle said, “the deals will go on. Our store has a Hometown feel and offers everyone a real ‘hometown hello.’”

[…]

The crowd was much smaller but the concerns were mostly the same at the May 16 SD&G Library Board hosted public information session which took place at the Morrisburg library branch.

About 30 people attended the meeting. Most had previously attended the meeting in Williamsburg the week before.

While this information session was meant to show the people of Morrisburg what the board has planned for the new branch, 95 percent of the questions asked and concerns raised from the floor were from the same people who are continuing to actively fight to keep the Williamsburg branch of the library open.

Karen Franklin made the County library presentation that rationalized and explained the need for change. 

“If we don’t make changes, the library system is at risk of sinking into oblivion,” she said. “Change is necessary and change can be good.”

Because the new branch location in Morrisburg will see foot traffic of 300-500 people per day passing through the doors of the building, they hope they will be able to attract some new users. Presently, about 12 percent of South Dundas residents are active library users.

At this meeting, as at the meeting in Williamsburg, South Dundas council was accused of not working for what the people want. 

Although some members of South Dundas council were at the meeting, they were there strictly in an observatory role. 

Library board chair Bill McGimpsey did comment on this point. “They too are elected to represent the other 10,000 people of South Dundas who are not using the library,” he said.

South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke did point out that council has yet to declare an official position on the matter and that will be done at the next council meeting.

Regardless of South Dundas council’s official position, the Library board has already decided that the consolidation is taking place and that the Williamsburg branch is closing. 

Even if South Dundas council supports the idea of maintaining a library in Williamsburg, the library is being displaced from their current home as of August 1, and the library board has no funds at their disposal to make arrangements for an alternate location. 

“Next election, people will remember this,” said Sandra Bailey to the politicians in the room. “As long as there’s 10 kids in Williamsburg using this library, keep the damn thing open. Find the money. There’s money for other things, why not this?” 

Someone in the audience explained that although he understands that the library is trying to stay alive, the library in Williamsburg is an important resource that the people there are trying to hold on to. “By removing this resource, children are being deprived.” he said. 

Mary Strader questioned how the consolidation would truly be an enhancement. “The only enhancement I see is a few additional hours of open time: Not more terminals. Not more books. I see it as less.”

“Look around, look at who’s here. Nobody in Morrisburg is even interested to see what’s coming their way. You are going after the non-users at the expense of the users,” concluded Strader.

[…]

He had hoped to return to the classroom yesterday, but Rodney Benton, the Seaway District High School teacher who was last week struck by lightning, still needs a little more time.

Benton was outside of the school at lunchtime running a boys baseball practice, May 15. When he noticed the skies darkening, he told the kids it was time to head inside.

On his way into the school, carrying an aluminum baseball bat he was struck by lightning. None of the students were harmed by the lightning strike that occurred at 12:20 p.m.

“All I heard was a loud noise. I saw a bright orangy white light, and I was knocked down to the ground,” said Benton. “I didn’t know what had happened, then the kids told me I was struck by lightning.”

The group rushed into the school. “I guess that’s when the shock set in,” said Benton, recalling the difficulty he had in communicating. “It was like everything was happening in the distance,” he said.

Staff had called paramedics, who started treatment immediately and transported him to Winchester Hospital.

Benton says at Winchester Hospital he was hooked up to IVs and monitored closely. He explained that they watch closely for kidney failure and they did some tests on his heart and his muscles, which contract with a huge intensity during a lightning strike.

Benton, a 31-year old father of two, soon to be three, is happy to report that at his last doctor’s appointment his heart is looking good, his kidneys are doing well and his muscles are getting back to normal.

“Physically, I’m getting there, but mentally this is taking a toll,” he said. “Thinking so much about your own mortality is a weird feeling,” he says.

“Honestly, I want to get back into the public and back to school, but mentally and physically, I’m not sure I’m ready yet,” he said.

He has only talked to a few of his students online since the incident last week.

But, he has done a lot of talking to the media. “I know that I wouldn’t want to be famous,” he says. 

“After a traumatic event like this, it’s a lot to be telling the same thing over and over again. But, I guess that’s a form of therapy too. The other day I was getting a bit fed up with talking about the same thing over and over again, because everyone is asking me about it. My mom made me realize that people are asking out of genuine concern.”

“This story has had a happy ending. When so often news stories are all about the bad, this is a nice survival story,” said Benton.

“I would really like to thank Terry Gardiner, SDHS principal and the staff for all their actions. The cards and emails I’ve gotten have been incredible. Seaway is like another family to me. I really want to give a shout out to them,” concluded Benton.

[…]

Morrisburg’s old high school now has a new name. It will be the South Dundas Municipal Centre.

South Dundas council decided on the new name after a very brief discussion at the May 8 council meeting.

The word Centre in the name was the only part that was debated. Council bandied about the words centre, complex and building and the majority decided centre was most appropriate.

It took only minutes for council to make this decision.

[…]

Visitor Information Services in Iroquois will be moved away from the Iroquois Plaza, and closer to the town’s tourist attractions.

South Dundas council approved the move at the May 7 meeting.

This move is one that was suggested by the Iroquois Waterfront Planning Committee.

The VIC will be located in the back room of the Forward House, making it accessible through the side door.

According to the usage statistics presented, it cost the township almost $23 per visitor with a tourism related inquiry to operated the facility last year.

South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan intends for this proposal to help use these funds more effectively.

The plan is to create a tourism cluster to capture the target audience.

“The target audience is those who are already interested in visiting the community,” she noted. “The objective is to provide information which encourages them to participate in additional activities, ultimately lengthening their stay and increasing spending within the community.”

“The Forward House is strategically placed for achieving this goal as it is located in close proximity to a number of tourism attractions in Iroquois (including the Carman House, Iroquois Golf Course, Iroquois Locks and Galop Canal Marina, etc.),” said Sullivan. “It provides an ideal opportunity to attract traffic that is going or coming from those destinations and travelling along Carman Road.”

“Similarly, the large majority of tourism signage which currently exists through the SDG Tourism signage programs directs visitors along that route,” she added.

Along with moving the visitor information service to a better location, the site also provides some opportunity to create a small interpretive centre where historical/artistic displays could be included. “The Forward House provides adequate space to this objective plus the added appeal of it being a historical building itself,” said Sullivan.

The location will have the convenience of a washroom facility, which the old building never had. Also it is located close to other municipally employed staff at the campground who may be able to cover staff at the facility during lunch breaks. In previous years, the building was left without staff during employee breaks.

The previous location in the plaza will remain in place, for the use of community groups through the township’s facility rental agreement. There would  be no fee.

[…]

The Morrisburg BIA is prepared to sponsor an Antiquefest in the Morrisburg Plaza in July 2013.

Bill Ewing, president of the Morrisburg Business Improvement Area, informed South Dundas council of this intention at April 16. According to Ewing, the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce and volunteers from the Morrisburg and District Lions Club have agreed to assist in organizing the event.

A committee will be formed and to chose the location. One suggestion is the pedestrian walkway behind the clock tower in the Morrisburg Mall.

[…]

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is reminding residents to take steps to protect themselves when in areas where Lyme disease-carrying ticks may be found. 

According to the EOHU, Eastern Ontario is seeing an increase in numbers and range of blacklegged ticks that carry Lyme disease, especially along the St. Lawrence River area. 

“Fortunately, simple precautions can help protect against tick bites, and lower your risk of becoming infected with Lyme disease,” states Linda Cléroux, Manager of the Vector-borne Illness program at the EOHU.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (deer ticks). 

It can cause a rash that looks like a red bull’s eye, as well as flu-like symptoms. Left untreated, Lyme disease can affect the heart, nervous system or joints, but if caught early can generally be treated successfully.

Outdoor enthusiasts and those who work outdoors are at higher risk of being exposed to Lyme disease, especially if they spend time in wooded areas, tall shrubs or tall grass that may be tick-infested.

The EOHU advises those who spend time outdoors and in higher risk areas such as wooded areas, tall shrubs or tall grass to follow these precautions to lower their risk:

Apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing and on all exposed skin. Read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for safe use.

Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and closed footwear (avoid sandals or open shoes). Light-coloured clothing is best because it makes ticks easier to see and remove before they can attach to feed.

Tuck your shirt into your pants, and tuck your pants into your socks.

Examine your body for ticks after being in an area where there’s tall grass or shrubs, or where ticks are known to live. Showering after can also help remove ticks that have not yet attached.

Remove any attached ticks with tweezers. If possible, take the tick to the EOHU, where it will be sent away for species identification and, if necessary, tested for Lyme disease.

Pets may bring ticks into the house. Consult your vet about how you can protect your pet from ticks.

Contact your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease (especially a bull’s eye rash).

For more information about Lyme disease and how you can protect yourself, visit www.eohu.ca. You can also call 613-933-1375 or 1 800 267-7120, and ask for Health Line.

[…]

While the Eastern Ontario Health Unit is warning of an influx of ticks carrying Lyme disease in this region, local veterinarians are issuing the same warning as ticks carrying Lyme disease can be  more dangerous to dogs than people. 

Dogs are considered to be 50 per cent more susceptible to developing Lyme disease from a tick bite than people. 

“Lyme disease is definitely one of  the biggest preventable disease concerns for dogs in our area,” says Dr. Devin Hunt of the Morrisburg Animal Hospital.

“We have seen a tremendous increase in the past few years of dogs reacting positive to the Lyme disease test,” said Hunt. “In years past, we would see two to three positives a year. In 2011, we saw eight. Last year we had 20.”

According to Hunt, locally, the hot-spot for dogs appears to be centred around Ingleside/Long Sault.

“To the west, we are seeing more positives west of Iroquois. The closer you get to Gananoque, the more you get,” he adds.

Also, Hunt is seeing some isolated hot-spots north of the Seaway, particularly, Newington, Lunenberg and Williamsburg.

Dogs that frequent long grass and forested areas are most at risk. 

“This past year however, we have also seen a couple of positives from dogs that never leave their yard. Songbirds can literally ‘parachute’ ticks into an area,” explains Hunt.

Hunt is recommending that all dogs in the Ingleside and Long Sault area receive Lyme disease vaccine, unless their risk of exposure is extremely low (mostly inside dogs). 

“Dogs spending a lot of time in the bush need to also receive tick control as there are other diseases ticks can spread other than Lyme disease such as Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis. Thankfully, both of these diseases seem to be pretty rare in our area presently,” said Hunt.

For pet owners who find a tick on their dog, they can take the tick to their veterinary clinic for identification and testing to see if it was an infected. Regular lab fees apply. 

For more information on ticks and tick prevention protocols, talk to your veterinarian. 

[…]